Reversible ratchet socket wrench head



July 25, 1961 1.. J. LENCI, JR., ETAL 2,993,396

REVERSIBLE RATCHET SOCKET WRENCH HEAD Filed May 20, 1960 INVEN .5 LouisJ. LEMC. 2.

A7'7'0/P/VE/J acumzuas ADAVIS 3 o 1 G a v United States Patent 2,993,396REVERSIBLE'RATCHET SOCKET WRENCH HEAD Louis J. Lenci, Jr., 165 AllisonAve., Cotati, Calitl, and Charles A. Davis, 336 Redw0od Ave., W'oodacre,Calif. Filed May 20, 1960, Ser. No. 30,504 7 Claims. (Cl. 81-63) Thisinvention relates to a novel reversible ratchet socket wrench head.

Theprimary object of the invention is to provide a more versatile andmore eflicient heavy-duty wrench head of the kind indicated, which canbe used on various types of speed wrenches, such as slide bar,.T-bar,extension types, etc., and which is more compact and of unusually smallcross-section, so as to be reachable into and operated in confinedspaces, and whose rotary component is itself a nut socket or a socketfor removable and interchangeable adapter nut sockets of difierent formsand sizes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a strong and stressresistant wrench head of the character indicated above whose ratchetmechanism is composed of an unusually small number of simple and ruggedparts, such that, because of this and the forms of the parts and theirrelationships, the parts can be made heavier than usual, so that themechanism has greater strength and life expectancy.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form ofthe invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings: v I 7 FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a wrenchincorporating a wrench head in accordance with the present invention;FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of FIGURE 1, with the wrench head brokenaway and in section to show the ratchet mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section taken throughthe wrench head and an adapter socket,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal horizontal section taken on theline 4--4 of FIGURE 3, showing the flexible ratchet key or dog in erectintermediate position in full lines, and in deflected release positionsin phantom lines; 7

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, showing the ratchet dog moved toa left-hand position for clockwise driving of a nut by the wrench head;

FIGURE 6 is a view like FIGURE 5, showing the ratchet dog moved to aright-hand position for counterclockwise driving of a nut;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 7-7 ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 88 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 9 is an open end elevation of an adapter socket.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designatelike parts throughout the several views,

the numeral 10 generally designates a wrenchhaving a wrench head 12, inaccordance with the invention. The wrench 10 comprises an elongated,preferably solid handle 14 which has a straight flat upper surface 16and a rearwardly tapering flat undersurface 18, which is transverselyrounded, as indicated at 20. The handle 14 is of substantially hourglassshape which endows the same with a rearwardly and longitudinally flaringrear portion 22 which tapers from anarrow waist 24, and a forwardlyflaring portion 26, which tapers from the waist 24, and terminates atits forward end in a semi-circular 'ice '2' head body 28. The head body28, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, is preferably solid, and is ofunusually great cross-sectionand depth, considering the cross-section ofthe handle 14 and the overall size of the wrench.

The head body 28 is formed therethrough with an axial, smooth, anduniform diameter cylindrical bore 30, having at its upper end asurrounding annular groove 62, and at its lower end a surroundingannular seat 34, formed severally in the upper and lower ends 36 and 38,respectively, of the head body.

Rotatably engaged in and relatively closely fitting the bore is acylindrical ratchet socket rotor 40 which has an enlarged diameter,externally rounded head 42 on its upper end, which turns in the groove32, and has stop engagement with the head body 28. The socket rotor 40is longer than the depth of the head body 28 and has a lower end portion44 which extends below the lower end 38 of the head body. At thelocation of the annular seat 34 the rotor 40 is formed with acircumferential annular locking groove 46 in which is securably engageda split spring locking ring 48 which engages in the seat 34 and has stopengagement with the head body 28, in opposition to the head 42, so as topreclude endwise movement of the rotor 40 in the head body.

The lower end 44 of the rotor 40 is formed with an axial socket 50,which can be a nut-engaging socket, but

is here shown as being a preferably square socket, for removablereception of the similar cross-section stub 52 of a substantially largernut-engaging adapter socket 54, which can be provided in difierentdesired sizes and with difierently shaped nut-receiving socket openings56.

The socket rotor 40 is also the ratchet wheel component of the wrenchhead mechanism, since ratchet teeth 58 are formed integrallytherearound. The ratchet teeth 58 are formed by indenting the rotor 40,at a locationspacecl between the head 42 and the socket 50. The ratchetteeth 58, as shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, have flat squared outer ends60 and are separated from each other, around the rotor, by semi-circularnotches 62, which provide concavely curved sides 64 on adjacent teeth,and a concave bottom 66 between the sides 64 and continuous therewith,to have cam and sliding engagements with a ratchet dog 68.

The ratchet dog 68 comprises an elongated, flat, rectangularcross-section bar, of relatively heavy gauge spring material, which hasan upper side edge 70 and a lower side edge 72. At the rear end of theupper edge 70 is an upstanding right angular and relatively narrow arm74 which has on its upper end a fixed cross head or finger piece 76. Onthe lower edge 72, at a point slightly displaced from the center, towardthe rear end 78 of the dog 68, is a relatively narrow, right-angulardownwardly extending finger 80.

The head body 28 is formed internally witha ratchet dog chamber 82 whichis flat and elongated and extends longitudinallyof the wrench handle 14and diametrically of the head body 28, and is parallel to and spacedfrom the upper end 36 of the head body 28, and is in line with theratchet teeth 58 on the rotor 40. In an intermediate part of the bottomsurface '84 of the chamber 82 is formed' a centered rectangular compoundrecess 86 having a relatively deep rear portion 88 and a relativelyshallow forvide for free lateral and longitudinal movements of the arm74 in the slot 94, and to enable the dog 68 to be,

ward portion 90. The upper surface 92 of the recess 82 is formed, at therear end thereof, with a slot 94,

opening to the upper end 36 of the head body 28, and' larger across thanthe ratchet dog arm 74, so as to proinserted into and removed from thechamber 82.

The ratchet dog 68 is loosely positioned in the chamber82, with itsfinger loosely engaged in the deep recess portion 88, and with its arm74 extending upwardly through the slot 94, with the finger-piece 76above the upper end 36 of the head body 28 and extending across the slot'94.

A helical ratchet dog positioning spring 9 6 which is compressedbetweenthe forward wall 98"of the narrower recess portion90 and the-adjacentedge of the finger 80, with ends of the-spring anchored inretainingsockets'in the wall-98 andthe finger, as indicated at 100 and10'2, respectively. The dog 68 is of a length that its forward end 104engages deeply in relatedratchet wheel notches 62, in the erect positionof thedog, -with --the end'104 spaced from the notch bottom66,--as*shown in FIGURE 4, with the rear end 78 of the dog securablyengaged in a middle retaining notch 106 which is-formed intermediate theends of the rearward endsurface'108'of the chamber 82, and is spacedfrom 'leftand right-hand'end retaining'notches 110 and- 112,respectively;

In its erect or intermediate position, shown in FIGURE 4, the ratchetdog 68'is'free to have its forward end portion flexed to either side, asindicated in phantom'lines, by cam engagement of related ratchet'toothsides64 therewith, in accordance with the direction of rotation of therotor-40, produced by'swinging of the wrench handle 14 in relateddirections while engaged with a nut,- until the forward 'end- 1040f thedogcan engage the outer end-60 of a related ratchet tooth 58 and-bepassed by such tooth, in a ratchet release action.

For locking the ratchet mechanism for right-hand'rotation of'a nut, thefinger-piece 76 is moved'to the extreme right, as shown in'FIGURE 5, sothat the dog 68 iscanted toward the left, with its rear end 78 engagedin the right-hand retaining notch 112,.and with its 'forward end 104 instop engagement with the side 64 f a related ratchettooth 58. The-spring76 holds 'the'dog engaged in the retaining notch 11-2 and in theleftward canted position. For locking the ratchetmechanism 'for reverseor left-rotation of a nut, the finger-piece 76 is-pushed over to theleft, as shownin FIGURE 6, so thatthe rear end 78 of the dog 68 isengaged in the right-hand end retaining notch 10, and its forward end104 is in stop engagement with'a side of a related ratchet tooth.

With the ratchet dog 69 in either ofthe' cantedpositions shown inFIGURES and 6, reverse rotation of the wrench handle 14 produces camflexing of the-forward endportion of the dog by related ratchet teeth58, in-releasing ratcheting actions. 7 7

While there hasbeen shown and described herein a'preferred form of theinvention it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarilyconfined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of andin the rela-' tive arrangements of components thereof are contemplatedas being within the scope of the invention-as defined by the claimsappended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A ratchet wrench head comprising a head body having an axial smoothbore extending therethrough, said body having upper and lower ends towhich the bore opens, a cylindrical socket rotorjournalled through saidbore, means holding said rotor against endwise movement in said bore,said rotor having circumferential ratchet teeth thereon spaced from itsends, an elongated'resilient dog having first and second'ends, meansloosely mounting the ratchet dog on the head body with the first end ofthe dog engaged between adjacent ratchet teeth, said means providing forcanting of the dog'in opposite directions, ratchet dog retaining meanson said head body engaged by the second end of the dog, said retainingmeans comprising an intermediate notch and leftand right-hand notchespositioned at opposite sides of the intermediate notch, said dog beingadapted to be canted out of an intermediate radial position relative tothe rotor to leftand right-hand canted positions wherein the second endof the dog is engaged in the left-hand notch or the right-hand notch,and positioning spring means compressed between the head body'an'dthe'dog andyieldably urging the dog into one of these notches, andmanualmeans for selectively canting the ratchet dog.

2. A ratchet wrench head comprising a head body having an axial smoothbore extending therethrough, said body having upper and lower 'ends towhichthe bore opens, a' cylindrical socket rotor joilrnalled"throughfs'aid bore, means holding-said rotor against endwise movementin said bore, said rotor having circumferential ratchet teeth thereonspaced from its ends, an elongated resilient dog having first and secondends, means loosely mounting the ratchet dog on the head body with the:first end of the dog engaged between adjacent ratchet teeth, said-meansproviding for cantingof the dog in oppos'ite directions, ratchet dogretaining means on said head body. engaged by the second end of the dog,said retaining means comprising an intermediate notch. and leftandright-hand notches: positioned at opposite sides of the intermediatenotch, said dog being adapted to be canted out of an intermediate radialposition relative to the rotor-to leftand right-hand cantedpositionswherein the second end of the dog is engaged in the left-hand notch orthe right-hand notch, and positioning spring means compressed betweentheheadbody and the dog andyieldably urgingtheidogiinto one of thesenotches, and manual,

means for selectively canting the ratchet dog, said rotor havingsemi-circular cam notches separating adjacent ratchet teeth, said camnotches having concave bottoms and concave camsides, the first end oftheratchet dog being in-cam engagement with a related cam sidein acanted position of the dog. p

-3. A-ratchet wrenchheadcomprising a head body having an axial "smoothbore extending therethrough, said body having upper and lower ends towhich-the bore opens, aycylindrical-socketrotor journalled through saidbore, means holding said rotor against endwise movement in said bore,said rotor having circumferential ratchet teeth thereon-spaced from itsends, an elongated resilient dog'having first and second ends, meanslooselymounting the ratchet dog on the head body with the first endofthe. dog engaged between adjacent ratchet teeth, said means providingfor canting of-the dog in opposite-directions, ratchet dog retainingmeans on said head body'engaged by the secondend off the dog, saidretainingmeans comprising anintermediate notch and leftand right-handnotches positioned at opposite sides of the intermediate notch, said dogbeing adaptedto be canted-out of an intermediate radial position*relative to the rotor to leftand right-hand canted positions whereinthe second end of the dogis engaged in the left-hand notch or theright-hand notch, and positioning spring means compressed between thehead body and the dog andyieldably urging the dog irito one of thesenotches, and manual means for selectively canting the ratchet dog, saidrotor 'having semi-circular'cam notches separating adjacentratchetteeth, said cam notches having concave bottoms and concave camsides, the first end of the ratchet dog being in cam engagement-with arelated cam side in a canted position of the dog, said mounting meanscomprising an internal chamber in said head body aligned with saidratchet teeth, said chamber having a first end opening into said borethrough whichthe first end of the ratchet dog reaches the ratchet teeth,said chamber having a closed second end on which said retaining notchesare located.

4. A ratchet wrench head comprising-a head body having an axial smoothboreextending therethrough, said body having upper and lower ends towhich the bore opens,- a cylindrical socket rotor journalled throughsaid bore, means holding said roto'r against endwise movement insaidwbore, said rotor having circumferential ratchet teeth thereonspaced from its ends, an'elong'ated resilient dog having first andsecond ends,means loosely mounting the ratchet dog on the head body withthe first endof thedog engaged between adjacent rat'chet teeth, saidrections, ratchet dog retaining means on saidh'ead 'b'od'y' engaged bythe second end of the dog, said retaining means comprising anintermediate notch and leftand right-hand notches positioned at oppositesides of the intermediate notch, said dog being adapted to be canted outof an intermediate radial position relative to the rotor to leftandright-hand canted positions wherein the second end of the dog is engagedin the left-hand notch or the right-hand notch, and positioning springmeans compressed between the head body and the dog and yieldably urgingthe dog into one of these notches, and manual means for selectivelycanting the ratchet dog, said rotor having semi-circular cam notchesseparating adjacent ratchet teeth, said cam notches having concavebottoms and concave cam sides, the first end of the ratchet dog being incam engagement with a related cam side in a canted position of the dog,said mounting means comprising an internal chamber in said head bodyaligned with said ratchet teeth, said chamber having a first end openinginto said bore through which the first end of the ratchet dog reachesthe ratchet teeth, said chamber having a closed second end on which saidretaining notches are located, said ratchet dog having a lateral arm onone edge thereof and a lateral finger on its other edge, said springmeans engaging said finger at one end, said chamber having a surfaceprovided with recess means in which said finger and said spring meansare located with the other end of the spring means engaged with a partof said recess means.

5. A ratchet wrench head comprising a head body having an axial smoothbore extending therethrough, said body having upper and lower ends towhich the bore opens, a cylindrical socket rotor journalled through saidbore, means holding said rotor against endwise movement in said bore,said rotor having circumferential ratchet teeth thereon spaced from itsends, an elongated resilient dog having first and second ends, meansloosely mounting the ratchet dog on the head body with the first end ofthe dog engaged between adjacent ratchet teeth, said means providing forcanting of the dog in opposite directions, ratchet dog retaining meanson said head body engaged by the second end of the dog, said retainingmeans comprising an intermediate notch and leftand right-hand notchespositioned at opposite sides of the intermediate notch, said dog beingadapted to be canted out of an intermediate radial position relative tothe rotor to leftand right-hand canted positions wherein the second endof the dog is engaged in the left-hand notch or the right-hand notch,and positioning spring means compressed between the head body and thedog and yieldably urging the dog into one of these notches, and manualmeans for selectively canting the ratchet dog, said rotor havingsemi-circular cam notches separating adjacent ratchet teeth, said camnotches having concave bottoms and concave cam sides, the first end ofthe ratchet dog being in cam engagement with a related cam side in acanted position of the dog, said mounting means comprising an internalchamber in said head body aligned with said ratchet teeth, said chamberhaving a first end opening into said bore through which the first end ofthe ratchet dog reaches the ratchet teeth, said chamber having a closedsecond end on which said retaining notches are located, said ratchet doghaving a lateral arm on one edge thereof and a lateral finger on itsother edge, said spring means engaging said finger at one end, saidchamber having a surface provided with recess means in which said fingerand said spring means are located with the other end of the spring meansengaged with a part of said recess means, said head body having a slotopening to said chamber through which said dog arm freely extends, andan enlarged finger-piece fixed on said arm outside of the head body andconstituting said manual means.

6. A ratchet wrench head comprising a head body having an axial smoothbore extending therethrough, said body having upper and lower ends towhich the bore opens, a cylindrical socket rotor journalled through saidbore, means holding said rotor against endwise movement in said bore,said rotor having circumferential ratchet teeth thereon spaced from itsends, an elongated resilient dog having first and second ends, meansloosely mounting the ratchet dog on the head body with the first end ofthe dog engaged between adjacent ratchet teeth, said means providing forcanting of the dog in opposite directions, ratchet dog retaining meanson said head body engaged by the second end of the dog, said retainingmeans comprising an intermediate notch and leftand right-hand notchespositioned at opposite sides of the intermediate notch, said dog beingadapted to be canted out of an intermediate radial position relative tothe rotor to leftand right-hand canted positions wherein the second endof the dog is engaged in the left-hand notch or the right-hand notch,and positioning spring means compressed between the head body and thedog and yieldably urging the dog into one of these notches, and manualmeans for selectively canting the ratchet dog, said rotor having an endformed with an axial polygonal socket.

7. A ratchet wrench head comprising a head body having an axial smoothbore extending therethrough, said body having upper and lower ends towhich the bore opens, a cylindrical socket rotor journalled through saidbore, means holding said rotor against endwise movement in said bore,said rotor having circumferential ratchet teeth thereon spaced from itsends, an elongated resilient dog having first and second ends, meansloosely mounting the ratchet dog on the head body with the first end ofthe dog engaged between adjacent ratchet teeth, said means providing forcanting of the dog in opposite directions, ratchet dog retaining meanson said head body engaged by the second end of the dog, said retainingmeans comprising an intermediate notch and leftand right-hand notchespositioned at opposite sides of the intermediate notch, said dog beingadapted to be canted out of an intermediate radial position relative tothe rotor to leftand right-hand canted positions wherein the second endof the dog is engaged in the left-hand notch or the right-hand notch,and positioning spring means compressed between the head body and thedog and yieldably urging the dog into one of these notches, and manualmeans for selectively canting the ratchet dog, said rotor having an endformed with an axial polygonal socket, and an interchangeable adapternut socket having a polygonal stud removably engaged in said socket.

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